Hyundai Built A Santa Cruz To Tackle The Rebelle Rally

This year’s Rebelle Rally is upon us and Hyundai has just taken the wraps off of the Santa Cruz that’ll go into the desert with team Brute Squad. The modified pickup truck features unique gear and graphics specifically for the all-women event. Here’s a quick dive into what Jill Ciminillo and Kristin Shaw will go into battle with on October 6th.

This year marks the seventh annual Rebelle Rally. During the eight-day event, each two-woman team will navigate 1,553 miles (2,500 km) through the Nevada and Californian desert with nothing more than a map and a compass. No cell phones or GPS devices are allowed. To tackle the event, Hyundai employed its engineer Eric Bruxton to make useful modifications to the Santa Cruz.

To start with, this pickup has a one-inch lift kit and a total of 8.6 inches of ground clearance. That extra clearance has allowed Hyundai to fit 29.5-inch Falken Wildpeak All-Terrain Trail tires on 17-inch Gear Offroad wheels. The only other major change to the otherwise stock Santa Cruz is an underbody skid plate to keep vital components safe while on the trails.

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On top of those modifications, sponsor Rally Innovations has provided more off-road gear. That includes a front light bar with a recovery hook, a bed top-mounted tire carrier bracket with storage for recovery tracks and shovels, and enhanced front protection. This truck has the looks to go with its off-road equipment too.

The livery seen on this truck was created by Hyundai Design North America designers Brad Arnold and Matt Marble. It’s intended to use a bandana motif to highlight the California surfing lifestyle. On top of that, the team Brute Squad logo, designed by Ciminillo herself, sits on the hood along with the team’s sponsors.

“The name is a bit tongue-in-cheek since neither of us are particularly brutish,” said Ciminillo. “But just like the Santa Cruz, we pack a powerful punch and are ready to head into the desert for this amazing adventure with no-GPS allowed.” The competition begins on October 6th and concludes on the 14th.